Moxie Vino

What is Sauvignon Blanc?

Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, dry white wine grape that tastes zesty and green, with grapefruit, lime, passion fruit and fresh-cut grass, and it's usually unoaked and very refreshing.

Sauvignon Blanc is the zingy white. It's tart, aromatic and practically jumps out of the glass. If Pinot Grigio feels too quiet and Chardonnay too heavy, this is probably your wine.

Tastes like
Grapefruit, lime, passion fruit, green pepper, cut grass
Sweetness
Dry
Where it's from
New Zealand's Marlborough; Loire Valley, France; California
Price range
About $10–20
Serve at
Fridge cold, 40–45°F
Bodylight → big
Sweetnessdry → sweet
Zingsoft → zippy

What Sauvignon Blanc tastes like

Bright citrus like grapefruit and lime, tropical fruit like passion fruit, and a green streak like fresh herbs, jalapeño or cut grass. It's sharp, mouthwatering and super fresh.

New Zealand versions are loud and tropical. French ones from Sancerre are more lemony and stony. California styles tend to be softer and rounder.

Where it comes from

Sauvignon Blanc grew up in France's Loire Valley and Bordeaux. Marlborough in New Zealand turned it into a global hit in the 1980s and 90s, and most grocery-store bottles now come from there.

How to pick a bottle

'Marlborough' means big, juicy, grapefruit-and-passion-fruit flavor. 'Sancerre' or 'Pouilly-Fumé' means the French, flintier style, usually $25 and up. 'Fumé Blanc' is a California name for Sauvignon Blanc, often with a little oak.

Buy the most recent year you can find. This is a wine to drink young and fresh.

What to eat with it

Goat cheese is the famous match. It's also great with tacos, ceviche, shrimp, green salads, sushi and anything with lemon, herbs or green veggies that make other wines taste weird.

Sauvignon Blanc to try

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Last checked 2026-10-11.